Zephyrhills, FL, USA
N7493X
Cessna 172B
The pilot stated that after refueling the airplane embarked and tried to start the airplane, and said that it would not start. He said he turned off the magneto switch, set the brakes, got out the airplane, and tried starting it by hand several times, but it would not start. After a brief distraction he said that when he again moved the propeller, all of a sudden the engine started operating immediately. He said the airplane moved forward and was heading toward the fuel tank, so he ran after it and grabbed the left strut to keep it from hitting the tank. He said the airplane proceeded between the fuel tank and the credit card machine, knocking him to the ground, and continued on, impacted two parked airplanes and two chain linked fences before stopping.
On November 21, 2004, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172B, N7493X, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted parked airplanes in Zephyrhills, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received serious injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The pilot stated that he had flown his airplane from Lakeland, Florida, to Zephyrhills, Florida, for fuel. After refueling he got in and tried to start the airplane, and said that it would not start. He said he turned off the magneto switch, set the brakes, got out the airplane, and tried starting it by hand several times, but it would not start. About that time a person drove up and asked him for directions, and after providing the person with information he said that when he next pulled the propeller, the engine started operating immediately, and its speed increased. The airplane started moving forward and the pilot said he jumped out of the way. He said it veered to the left and was heading toward the fuel tank, so the pilot said he ran after it and grabbed the left strut to keep it from hitting the tank. The airplane proceeded between the fuel tank and the credit card machine, and in the process the pilot said he was knocked to the ground. As the airplane continued on, the pilot said it impacted two parked airplanes, as well as two chain linked fences. The airplane's entanglement in the second fence caused the engine to cease operating, and as a result, the airplane stopped moving.
The pilot's failure to set the parking brake and his improper starting procedure which resulted in an unattended aircraft running away after hand starting the engine and the airplane colliding with parked airplanes, incurring substantial damage.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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